• Go steelheading — Forget about Christmas, Kwanzaa or Hanukkah.
The real December tradition on the North Olympic Peninsula is steelhead fishing.
Given the crowds that routinely set up shop on the Bogachiel, Calawah and Quillayute rivers, perhaps one ought to celebrate this holiday on the banks of the Lyre.
That river might not have the caché of its West End brethren, but a fair amount of steelhead stake claim to its waters this time of year.
• Go clamming — Consider it an indictment of the practice if you must.
But with partly sunny skies, 40-degree temperatures and calm surf expected at Kalaloch Beach this weekend, the Peninsula razor clam set just might have its best opportunity of the season to stock the freezer.
• Go shredding — A lack of operational rope tows or lifts doesn’t have to stop you from enjoying the snow.
Some fresh powder fell on Hurricane Ridge this week, and you can partake in some shredding . . . as long as you’re willing to hike back up the hill.
• Go crab — Those same minus tides that will aid coastal razor clam diggers this weekend should also open things up for crab waders as well.
Sunday (-2.12 feet at 8:53 p.m.) and Monday (-2.01 feet at 9:32 p.m.) will offer particularly prime evening tides for those looking to go mano-a-pincer with a few Dungeness crab in Dungeness Bay.
Bring a crab rake, lantern and considerable constitution, and you might come home with a few beedy-eyed beasts.
• Go cheap — Nothing says happy holidays quite like marked-down Olympic National Park merchandise.
Park partner Discover Your Northwest will hold its annual holiday sale Dec. 10-24 at three store locations on the Peninsula: Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles, Forks Recreation Information Center and Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center.
Discover Your Northwest members, as well as members of other national park cooperating organizations, are eligible to receive a 30 percent discount.
Unfortunately, this does not include park passes. Bummer.
